News Release

Thursday, October 18, 2001

Officers Rescue Suicidal Distraught Woman

"Officers Rescue Suicidal Distraught Woman"

San Pedro: On Thursday, October 18, 2001, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Harbor Area officers responded to a call of a jumper at the Victory Outreach Home, located at 1241 South Mesa Street in San Pedro. A 41-year-old woman was distraught due to being diagnosed with cancer and lupus. She had partially exited her second story bedroom window and was sitting on the window ledge threatening to jump. There was a wrought iron fence topped with sharp spikes directly below the window. Apparently, she was aware of the hazard and made several statements threatening to impale herself on the spikes. Officers Ronald Quinton, David Nick, Michael Bautista, Leah Baxter, Edward Vidaillet and Nicolas Rodriguez, along with Sergeant Vaotupua Feula responded to the location. The officers established a rapport with the woman while devising a tactical plan for her rescue. The Los Angeles Fire Department and Metropolitan Division's Crisis Negotiation Team were requested to respond to the scene.

Prior to the arrival of the Crisis Negotiation Team, the distraught woman's action led the officers to believe that she was about to jump. Immediately putting their plan into action, Officers Edward Vidaillet and Nicolas Rodriguez were able to pull the woman to safety, while other officers distracted her.

Neither the officers nor the woman were injured during the successful rescue.

The woman was subsequently booked at Harbor UCLA, Psychiatric Ward for a 72-hour evaluation.

The involved officers can be made available for interviews upon request from the media.